Posted on 05/26/2006 2:07:50 PM PDT by kristinn
All FReepers and lurkers in good standing are urged to join the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic this Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery as we stand up against the Fred Phelps led Westboro Baptist Church.
Phelps and his cult will be doing their "God Hates Fags," "God Loves Dead Soldiers" schtick on Memorial Drive near the entrance to the cemetery.
We'll gather in opposition to send a positive, patriotic message of gratitude to the families of the Fallen who will be arriving at Arlington for the wreath laying and speech by President Bush that morning.
An excerpt from the press release by Westboro Baptist Church:
Thursday, May 25,2006 NEWS RELEASE Thank God for lEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) God Himself Has Now Become America's Terrorist, Killing and Maiming American Troops in Strange Lands for Fag Sins. WBC to picket Arlington National Cemetery - at 10:15 a.m., Monday, May 29 - at Jefferson Davis Hwy. & Memorial Drive,Washington, D.C. (Virginia) - in religious protest warning: God is not mocked! Gal. 6:7. God Hates Fags! & Fag Enablers! Ergo, God hates the U.S.A. and Memorable Day idolatries.
The D.C. Chapter will arrive at 8 a.m. to get set up along Memorial Drive with the MOAB and our flags and signs. Parking at the cemetery is going to be tight, which is another reason to get there early. There is a Metro station at Arlington that is served by the Blue Line.
Please forward this announcement to those you know who would be interested in joining us Monday morning.
As always, the D.C. Chapters rules for demonstrating will be in effect. Briefly, they are: No violence, no profanity, no racism, no provocations, obey the law and treat all law enforcement officers with respect.
Sorry to miss you today!
Next time!
JOYCE
JoysKid:
Please check out the pictures posted by TroopRally.
Your sisters are shown at their "freep" on page 2.
Everyone knows of your ONE woman Presidential Freep on the New York State Thruway last month. Now the rest of the family are FREEPERS too!
And, great work by everyone who was out there today!
Perhaps this was already posted?
Thanks to all who stood up for our troops & their families at Arlinton.
Reprinted from NewsMax.com
Monday, May 29, 2006 10:43 a.m. EDT
Bush Bans Protests at Military Funerals
President Bush, marking Memorial Day with a speech paying tribute to fighting men and women lost in war, signed into law Monday a bill that keeps demonstrators from disrupting military funerals.
In advance of his speech and a wreath-laying at America's most hallowed burial ground for military heroes, Bush signed the "Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act." This was largely in response to the activities of a Kansas church group that has staged protests at military funerals around the country, claiming the deaths symbolized God's anger at U.S. tolerance of homosexuals.
The new law bars protests within 300 feet of the entrance of a national cemetery and within 150 feet of a road into the cemetery. This restriction applies an hour before until an hour after a funeral. Those violating the act would face up to a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.
Monday's observance at Arlington National Cemetery was not a funeral, so demonstrators were free to speak their minds at the site.
And several did.
Approximately 10 people from the Washington, D.C., chapter of FreeRepublic.com, a self-styled grass roots conservative group, held signs at the entrance of the cemetery supporting U.S. troops. A large sign held by several people said, "God bless our troops, defenders of freedom, American heroes."
They were faced off against a handful of anti-gay protesters who stood across a four-lane highway as people headed toward the national burial grounds.
The FreeRepublic.com group was trying to counter demonstrations by the Kansas-based group, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps. He previously had organized protests against those who died of AIDS and gay murder victim Matthew Shepard.
In an interview at the time the House passed the bill that Bush signed Monday, Phelps charged that Congress was "blatantly violating" his First Amendment rights. He said that if became law, he would continue to demonstrate but would abide by the law's restrictions.
Bush signed a second bill Monday that allows combat troops to deposit tax-free pay into individual retirement accounts. Supporters of the legislation argued that rules governing these accounts were punishing soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq who earn only tax-free combat pay.
Great photos! Thanks!
Thanks for the photos! You did reeeeel good!
It was wonderful to see you again. I am confident it will not be long before you are up and at 'em again!
Stooopid work!
Approximately 10 people from the Washington, D.C., chapter of FreeRepublic.com
10? Kristinn and I came up with 21 names and I think we forgot some.
Photos are up!
Newsmax.com has an article about the freep quoting Kristinn.
Nice job folks!!!
You would have loved this one April!!
http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060530-123559-1005r
"... About a dozen people from the Washington chapter of FreeRepublic.com, a grass-roots conservative group, stood across the road with signs supporting U.S. troops. A large sign held by several people said, "God bless our troops, defenders of freedom, American heroes."
Thank You Ping
You sure get up early!
Well, a dozen is closer to 21 than 10! ;*)
Things got pretty hot in Delaware last week.
Funeral Protest (Angry Seaford, DE Residents Confront Phelps' Cult)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1636225/posts
You're not in Kansas Anymore, Toto (Video of Westboro Protest in Seaford DE)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1637985/posts
32 posted on 05/30/2006 4:20:48 AM PDT by Gabz (Proud to be a WalMartian --- beep)
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